The Consulate General of Canada and partners are pleased to bring to you, Pittsburgh’s business community, a series of events aimed to enhance the Pittsburgh-Canada economic relationship. You are invited to attend the event s of interest to you and your company. Prior registration is required for each event. Please follow the RSVP/Registration instructions under each event description.

All of the events below will be held at:Pop-Up Canada!623 Smithfield St.Pittsburgh, PA.______________________________________________________________________________

Armchair Discussion with the Honourable Gary Doer Ambassador of Canada to the United States

The United States and Canada share the longest, peaceful border in the world and have a long tradition of close cooperation. The countries are each other’s most important trading partners, with two-way goods trade totaling $632billion annually – a trading relationship that dwarfs that of any other bilateral trading relationship in the world!

U.S.–Canada trade is characterized by highly integrated manufacturing sectors and supply chains and highly successful regulatory regimes. The two economies have become so integrated, so seamless, that countless firms have developed internal production value chains that operate back and forth across the border. This relationship drives innovation and creates a more competitive North American trading bloc.

How has the U.S.–Canada economic relationship evolved since the signing of the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement? With a growing energy relationship, and the resurgence of manufacturing in North America, what sort of opportunities does the future hold — particularly for Pittsburgh’s connection with our northern neighbour? Join the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh and the Canadian Consulate for an exploration of these questions and more with one of Canada’s most well-respected and distinguished public servants.

Join SMC Business Councils, the Canadian Consul General John F. Prato, CEO of Alberta Innovates Eddy Isaacs and Rainmaker President and CEO Clark Grue for the Canadian Oil Sands Business Opportunities Seminar.

The Canadian Oil Sands Business Opportunities Seminar offers Pennsylvania businesses the chance to learn about the Alberta Oil Sands and explore how best to get involved. With more than $12 billion in active projects, and $55 billion spent in 2012, there are incredible prospects for Pennsylvania businesses. An estimated $2 trillion in total projects that deal directly with oil production from the oil sands will be budgeted over the next 25 years. Opportunities include supplying both services and equipment used for mining, production, and support of infrastructure.

This seminar will highlight synergies that exist in the development of innovation for the oil & gas sector, especially between the oil sands of Alberta and the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania. Starting from an acknowledgement that the industry in both jurisdictions faces similar challenges with regards to water management and carbon emissions, leading companies will provide examples of how they are innovating and developing new sustainable technologies for the industry.

Hosted by the Consulate General of Canada, in partnership with Southpointe Chamber of Commerce and NOVA Chemicals.

North America’s energy revolution continues to reshape the way we look at economic competitiveness, particularly in terms of our workforce development – including education, training, and other human resources support.

The energy sectors in each of these three cities create opportunities for collaboration and partnerships that can be leveraged into productive policies and regulations, and enhanced infrastructure and networks.

Please join us to hear about Pittsburgh’s place in the North American Energy Triangle.

Refreshments will be served.

Hosted by the Consulate General of Canada and the Pittsburgh Regional Alliance.

RSVP via rsvp.ny@international.gc.ca.

4:30 – 7:00pm Power Perspectives: Electricity and Clean Technologies in Ontario and Quebec

Featuring keynote remarks by The Honorable William Peduto, Mayor of the City of Pittsburgh

Both provinces continue to promote and support the widespread use of renewable energy sources, such as hydropower and wind. As Ontario modernizes its electricity system through smart grids and pilot projects tackling issues such as system congestion, Quebec is actively looking toward the electrification of its transportation sector and other GHG-reducing programs, and has a vibrant clean-tech sector.

Reception to follow.

Hosted by the Consulate General of Canada, the Quebec Government Office, and the Province of Ontario in partnership with the Energy Alliance of Greater Pittsburgh.

RSVP via rsvp.ny@international.gc.ca

Please contact the Energy Alliance of Greater Pittsburgh with any questions.

Discover how collaborating with Quebec could add value to your business! Meet senior representatives from Bombardier Transport, Carnegie Mellon College of Engineering, Motion Engine and INO (Quebec Optic/Photonic Institute) to learn about business and R&D opportunities between Quebec and Pittsburgh. See how your company can take advantage of those existing relations, and learn more about what is happening in Quebec.

Seminar to be followed by a networking cocktail, where you will have the chance to taste some Quebec cheeses and beers!

Hosted by the Province of Québec in partnership with: Catalyst Connection, Bombardier, Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering, Motion Engine, and INO

Help us welcome the 10th President of Carlow University – Suzanne K. Mellon, PhD at the Inauguration Ceremony on Saturday, April 5, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Antonian Theatre on Carlow Unversity’s Campus. There will be a reception following the installation from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. at Saint Agnes Center on Fifth Aveune. Both the ceremony and the reception is open to all so please bring friends and family to join in the celebration. For a full list of the Inauguration Events please visit this link to Carlow’s Website: http://www.carlow.edu/Schedule_of_Events.aspx.

About Suzanne K. Mellon, PhD

Carlow University welcomes Suzanne K. Mellon, PhD as the 10th President of Carlow University. Dr. Mellon is from St. Anselm College in Manchester, NH where she was the Executive Vice President and Professor since 2009. She has an extensive track record in strategic planning, academic program development and community collaboration with a familiarity with Catholic higher education and the mission of the Sisters of Mercy. Carlow University Board of Trustees selected Dr. Mellon to be the next president because she is a “visionary leader, whose creative outlook will help to strengthen Carlow and inspire others”. On behalf of all MBA Students, we welcome Dr. Mellon and look forward to all of the great things she will do at Carlow!

Mark your calendars! Carlow’s 10th Annual Graduate Colloquium will take place on Wednesday, April 2, 2014 from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. in AJ Palumbo Hall of Science and Technology on Carlow University’s Campus. This year there are a total of 37 student submissions, involving 68 students and 24 faculty sponsors. These submissions include 1 disciplinary panel, 12 poster sessions, 20 presentations, 4 readings and 4 pieces of artwork. Stop by and support your classmates and friends.

Please join us for Executive-in-Residence lecture by Lyn Doverspike, Director- U.S. Commercial Service, Pittsburgh Office. The U.S. Commercial Service is the export promotion agency of the U.S. government serving under the U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration (ITA). ITA works to improve the global business environment and helps U.S. organizations compete abroad.

The event will take place on:

Date : 13th February 2014

Time : 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Place: A.J. Palumbo Hall of Science & Technology, Room No. 107

For further information, please contact Patty Ruffner at 412.578.8786 or pmruffner@carlow.edu

Trish Theil, a current MBA student and former graduate of Carlow University has purchased a Visiting Angels franchise this past June. Visiting Angels provides home care to the elderly population and those who have just gotten out of the hospital. Their goal is to assist those in need live a fulfilling life while assisting with their daily needs. Click here to learn more.

Congratulations to Latoya Johnson-Rainey, a Carlow MBA student, on her entrepreneurial endeavor. Her business is a new wig boutique named “A Hair Boutique“, located in Shadyside, Pittsburgh, whose grand opening events will be held on week October 21-26. She shares her experience of utilizing the knowledge and techniques that she learned in the MBA Program at Carlow University, towards helping her in her launch.

“My name is LaToya Johnson-Rainey and I will graduate from the MBA program at Carlow University in December of 2013. I announced the soft launch of my own business, A Hair Boutique, Pittsburgh’s premium experience wig shop on Thursday September 19, 2013. I would like to share my experiences from Carlow with hopes of inspiring other students who want to open their own business.

When starting my graduate studies I worked as a business administrator for my family owned businesses and I would apply the concepts from my coursework to that business. I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur but I wasn’t sure what type of business I wanted to own. I stayed focus and started to get in tune with my innate gifts and applied them to the coursework. My Carlow experience has taught me to be more organized, diligent in my research, never to give up, and to let my work speak for itself. Specifically through team projects and the objectives I really grasped the importance of team dynamics, innovation, and planning.

Using the knowledge I gained as a MBA student I was able to successfully start a business using the blue ocean strategy which creates a totally new market. Business owners are problem solvers as we see a need for “something” and we strive to fulfill that niche. In my market I do not have direct competition because A Hair Boutique combines the personalized service of a high end boutique with quality products to create an ultimate experience for a vulnerable demographic.

In the initiation phase of creating A Hair Boutique I first created a mission and a business plan. I was in a marketing course at the time so I used that opportunity to work on my dream and receive constructive feedback through the coursework. Next I aligned that mission with everything that related to the business; finding distributors, location, supporters, marketing materials, and everything else that required a decision.

In addition to the coursework, Carlow provided many networking opportunities that helped fulfill this dream. I took advantage of these opportunities by attending Executive in Suite meetings, the View from the C-Suite: Insights from Women Who Cracked the Glass Ceiling event, and the SEO training via Luna Metrics. After attending the events I would write reflections for the MBA blog to share the experiences.

The SEO training via Luna Metrics taught me how to create organic SEO. I worked hard to impact the non-profit organization that I was paired with during the course. In return the instructor who is also a certified Google Analytics engineer appreciated my hard work and wrote me an outstanding recommendation. I was able to use this skillset to create the website for A Hair Boutique. When I completed the website the instructor from Luna Metrics analyzed the website. That was totally awesome because I was able to get feedback from someone with high credentials. Also this experience saved me money (which is important when starting a business).

During the View from the C-Suite: Insights from Women Who Cracked the Glass Ceiling event I sat at a table with a director from First Commonwealth bank. She and I developed a great relationship and she has been instrumental to A Hair Boutique. She has helped with banking needs, credit card merchant services, and connecting me with many women in business organizations.

I have gained so much from my experience at Carlow, to mention them all would make this a very long release. So I will sum it up by saying Carlow really cares; the professors, the students, the networking opportunities, and coursework are all reflections of the core values. I would like to encourage anyone with passion to start a business to do it. Trust your instincts and believe in yourself; all of the experiences will begin to show in your work. “Do all that you can, with all that you have”!

Submit Your Work!

Current Carlow MBA students: Do you have something you would like to contribute to the MBA blog? Please send your submissions to our editor-in-chief, Manika Kumari at mkumari {at} live (dot) carlow {dot} edu, or Rachel Chung at tchung (at) carlow (dot) edu.